Car-coupling



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

C. KNZLER.

GAR COUPLING.

Patented July 16, 1889.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. 0. KNZLBR.

GAR GOUPLING. No. 407,020. y Patented July 16, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

CONRAD KNZLER, or TOLEDO, Omo.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 407,020; dated July 16,1889.

Application tiled March 27, 1889. Serial No. 304,999. (No model.)

To all wiz/0m, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CONRAD KNZLER, a citizen of Switzerland, who hasdeclared his intention to become a citizen of the United States,nowaresidcnt of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Car- Couplers; and I dohereby declare that the fo1- lowing is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to car-couplings, and has for its Object to providea coupling that shall be automatic in action, easy to uncouple, andadapted to the'use of the ordinary link and pin when necessary.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of one end ot a box orfreight car with my coupling applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe Opposite sections of the coupling in engagement. Fig. 3 is a sideview of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing one of the sectionscoupled with the Ordinary drawbar by means of a link and pin. Fig. 5 isa detail view of one of the sliding wedges for uncoupling the sections.

To the draw-bar A is pivotally secu red two side plates B, to which aresecured an upper and a lower coupling-bar C and C, respectively, saidbars being' pivotally secured to the side plates B by means of bolts D.The forward ends of the coupling-bars C are spearshaped ordouble-barbed, the incline of the same extending rearwardly, of a widthrelative tothe width of the bar, to form shoulders D'. Directly in rearof the shoulder D is an eye E, of a diameter to receive a coupling-pin,and from the eye is extended rearwardly a slot F, adapted to receivemovable portions OE the device for uncoupling the sections, as will bemore fully described.

G designates a plate formed of a thickness and length to move withinslot F, and be confined therein when the coupling-bars are separated thefull extent necessary. Plate G is formed with a central extension Il, towhich is attached a lever I in any preferred manner,

cured to the draw-bar.

K K designate upper and lower sections, respectively, ofuncoupling-wedges, formed with a body portion L, adapted to slide withinslot F, and ot' a width to extend through the same upon each side of thecouplingbar a sufficient distance to allow strips M, having inclinedends h' to be secured to the body portion L upon each side thereof aboveand below the coupling-bar. The inner strips M are of greater lengththan the outer strips, thereby allowing a portion of each to extend tothe rear side' of the plate G and embrace the same, and when the innerend of the body portion L nearly abuts against plate G to allow a pin orbolt N to be passed through perforations in the ends of the strips atthe rear side of said plate, whereby each section is pivotally connectedwith the plate and move forward or rearward as theA plate is actuated bylever I.

K are leaf-springs, attached at one end to the draw-bar, with the freeend bearing upon the coupling-bar C, thereby preventing all rattle orjar of the coupling-bars.

In operatioinwhen two cars are to be coupled, as the coupling-bars C andC meet, the inclined portions of one section pass between and the sameof the Opposite section until bump ers meet, at which time the shouldersD are in engagement and the cars are coupled.

In order to uncouple the sections, the free .end of lever I of eithersection is grasped and moved toward the car, thereby moving plate G inslot F toward the arrow-heads, causing the inclined faces M of the outerends of strips M to pass between the incline of the arrow-head and raisethe shoulder of the same from engagement with the shoulder of thearrow-head of the Opposite coupling-bar, and the sections are uncoupled.

Then it is desired to use a link 'and pin, plate G and the sections K Kare moved back out of the lino with eye E, and the link, as shown inFig. 4l, and the sections are coupled.

In Fig. 'l is shown in dotted lines an attachment by which the sectionsmay be un coupled from the car. In this construction there is an arm J",extending at right angles from the leverJ and integraltherewith,theresaid lever being fulcrumed in an arm J, se-

IOO

by forming a bell-crank lever fulcrumed at J, one end of the leverbeingattached to the plate G at I'I, and the free end J having a perforationinto which is passed the lower end of a lever P, (shown in dotted1ines,) the lever P being fulcrumed at P upon the base of the car, andthe upper end extended to any desired height-as, for instance, whenattached to a box-car it may extend to or near the top, or inpassenger-cars to a convenient height to be out of the way of therailing upon the platform-and, if desired, the free end of the lever Jmay be omitted, thereby forming solely a bell-crank lever, the operationand mechanism being the same for uncoupling the sections. It Will beseen that the device is inexpensive of construction, positive in action,easily uncoupled, and adapted to the use of the link and pin.

What I claim is-- l. In a car-coupler, a draw-bar, plates pivloted uponthe same, and duplex co upling-bars having pointed ends andengaging-shoulders pivotally connected to the plates, in combinationwith movable plates having wedge-shaped ends adapted to uncouple thecoupling-bars when in engagement, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a car-coupler, two coupling -bars formed with inclined ends -andengagingshoulders, each bar having an elongated opening in the bodyportion thereof, in combination with a plate extending within eachopening and connected to a lever and to movable plates Within the slotsin the coupling-bars, each of the latter having wedge-shaped ends, asand for the purpose set forth.

8. In a car-coupling, two coupling-bars formed with inclined ends andengagingshou1ders,in combination with a lever connected with amovableseries of inclined strips adapted to pass between the inclines of theengaging-bars,with which they are connected, as and for the purpose setJforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby aiiix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

y CONRAD KNZLER.

IfVitnesses:

A. S. HILL, NVILLIAM WEBSTER.

